Did you know that in 1967 Stetson students held a “smoke-in” to protest a ban against the sale of cigarettes on campus? Approximately 250 Hatters attended the smoke-in hosted by two Student Government senators. Attendees enjoyed free cigarettes and folk music, creating such an odd scene that the event gained national publicity in the Associated Press.  

Also, did you know that a large wooden World War II memorial plaque hangs in Elizabeth Hall, placed on a hallway wall in 1945 to honor the students and faculty who left Stetson to answer the call to fight? As a result, the Stetson Veterans Database was recently created and is available for anyone to use.

Those are just two of many questions answered in the Stetson 150 Project — a student-driven effort to explore the university’s hidden history.

The project is now live online and with plans to continue.

“This is the result of a year of research, writing, oral histories, thinking about how to present history publicly and, finally, designing a website,” said Professor of History Mayhill Fowler, PhD, faculty advisor on the project. “This gives students the ability to do ‘real’ history, which can never be accomplished in one semester’s research paper. All of their work changed and shifted over the year of long-form research. It’s how we work as professional historians. And it’s precisely what we want with Hatter Ready. The students have learned so much, and have gained skills they will use in their careers — both want to go into library and archives work.”

About The Project

In 2033, Stetson will celebrate its 150th anniversary. As a part of that celebration, the Department of History teamed up with the duPont-Ball Library to tell uncommon stories. Going forward, each semester a small group of students will research any topic of the university’s past and tell that story. The Omeka site (free, flexible and open-source online platform), built with the help of the library, will house the evolving collection of oral histories, archival documents and articles.

This academic year, with assistance from several other students, credit for the initial work goes largely to Class of 2026 student Reagan Shivers and Benjamin Miyazato (graduating in May 2027), in collaboration with Assistant Professor Mike Wells, Web Services and Research Librarian.

Shivers called the Stetson 150 project “extremely impactful for me as a researcher.”

“I had the opportunity to handle archival material and be the first person to interpret the history of these topics at Stetson,” she described. “I was able to explore my historical interests without the semester-long time restraints of a standard course, so my project really developed into something more advanced over time. Stetson 150 has completely changed my perspective of Stetson. Every new thing I learn about the university becomes a potential research topic — and this freedom to choose your own interests is what makes Stetson 150 so special.”

Stetson 150 Project plans for the future? The hope is that during Homecoming this fall, Oct. 16-18, alumni will contribute more oral histories of their time at Stetson, as new students become involved under the direction of incoming faculty advisor Jacob Walters, PhD.

“This is a great demonstration of students doing practical public history work, applying skills learned in the classroom and learning new skills that are applicable to their careers,” said Walters. “It’s also a great demonstration of how history exists all around us and is a public inheritance, but that it is up to us to decide what we do with that inheritance. It shapes our lives regardless.”

Editor’s note: This story is an update from Uncovering History for the Stetson 150 Project, Oct. 30, 2025.